EU To Vote On Ukraine Visa Liberalization In October

European Parliament President Martin Schulz says he hopes the bloc will vote on visa liberalization for Ukraine in October.

Schulz, speaking at an EU summit in Bratislava on September 16, said that before the European Parliament can vote on the issue, it must be approved by the parliamentary civil-liberties committee in a vote scheduled for September 29.

Ukraine, Georgia, Kosovo, and Turkey are all seeking visa liberalization to the EU's Schengen zone this year.

Earlier this month, the civil-liberties committee voted for visa liberalization for Georgia.

Berlin had refused to support the measures before the summer, citing a spike of crimes allegedly committed by Georgians in Germany.

The committee also voted in favor of similar move for Kosovo but it opted against opening negotiations with the EU member states until Pristina has fulfilled all criteria, including solving a border dispute with Montenegro and fight organized crime.